Slider for slide fasteners



Nov. 26, 1940. A. E. cARLlLE l 2,223,279

SLIDER FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Filed Feb. 24, 1940 INVENl-roR. if H/ed E, 7a/life,

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A TTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 26, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ica Alfred E. Carme. Meadville, Pa., assigner to Talon,

Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 24, 1940, serial No. 320,618

mclsimi. (vizi-205.5) i i This invention relates to slide fasteners and, in particular, to the provision therein of a slider construction embodying new and improved lockdirectly engageable with the interlocking fastener members of the slide fastener in a novel manner,-

achieving new and advantageous results.

n is a further object of this invention to pro;

vide such a slider construction whereinthe locking means, which directly engages the interlocking fastener members of the fastener, cooperates therewith in such manner as to avoid damage and defacement of the surfaces of the interlocking fastener members, and wherein the locking means inherently resists accidental locklfing of the slider when unlocked and/or' accidental unlocking of the slider when locked.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such locking means which is long-wearing,

' 30 and but little subjected to wear, and which cooperates with tle interlocking fastener members ofthe fastener in the unlocked position of the pull tab, in such manner as to avoid impairment of the free sliding properties of the unlocked slider. i

. These and other objects and advantages of the nventionwill appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which forms a part thereof, and will be pointed out in the appended claim Inthe drawing:

Fig. 1 is `a perspective view, partly broken away and partly insection, of a slider constructed according to this invention, on the stringers` of a slide fastener;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the slider of Fig. 1, showing the parts in unlocked position, asinFig.1; f'

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the parts in locking position;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken substantially on the line I-I of Fig. 2, with the righthand fastener stringer omitted in the interest of clearness; J f

Fig. 5 is a .longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3, with the rig thand stringer omitted in the interest of clearness; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a single interlocking fastener member, shown in Fig. 1, de` tached from its supporting Stringer tape in order best to illustrate the details thereof.

Certain problems have been encountered in the use, o'n certain articles of clothing, such as mens trousers, of conventional sliders provided with manually actuated locking pins secured to the pull tab of the slider. When such sliders are brought to partially open position and the pull tabs accidentally released or removed somewhat from unlocked position, the pin will oftenfall automatically into locking position between adjacent interlocking fastener members and subsequent application of tearing stress upon the fastener, tending to urge the slider longitudinally of the fastener, will place substantial strain upon the interlocking fastener members adjacent the locking pin tending to impair the firmnessof attachment of the interlocking fastener members to the Stringer tape. For this reason; it is desirable that such locking means be provided,r

as will inherently resist unintentional assumption of the locked position.

Furthermore, in the use of such pin lock sliders, as .described above the 'slider is sometimes brought to a terminal position wherein the pin will engage the exterior fiat side surface of a locking member instead of entering the space between adjacent interlocking fastener members. In such cases the application of pressure to the pull tab is resisted by this engagement of the pin with the exterior sidefsurface of the in.

terlocking fastener member. In order properly to lock the slider in position and to bring the pull tab thereof to locked position, it isnecessary to move the slider to such position that the pin will fall into locking position between adjacent in terlocking fastener members. The application of force to the pull tab, instead of movement of the slider, will often result in serious damage to the fastener and/or locking pin thereof.

According to the principles of this invention,

v the above disadvantages are totally obviated b y the provision of such locking means asis herein describedI and illustrated. The lock slider, according to this invention, may not readily be dislodged from its position unintentionally-and cannot accidentally assume alocked position when the fastener is partly open.,

The locking member, in its unlocked position, l

slides or skids uponthe kfiat side surface porrotary movement of the locking member.

tions of the interlocking fastener membersl in. such manner that the fastener may be opened.

by stripping when the locking means is in un-A locked position. In other words, the stringers may be pulled apart above the slider and the slider caused to move downwardlywith respect to the stringers, during which movement the operative surface of the. locking member skids placing it in locking position with respect to the interlocking fastener members'.

In its locking position, the operative surface of the locking member' extends inwardly beyond the plane of the exterior flat side surfaces of the interlocking members. For this reason, in order to secure this penetration of the locking member within the plane ofl the at surface portions. itis necessary to exert 'such force upon the pull tab as to overcome the resiliency of the locking member and cause the locking portion thereof to be snapped into' locking position to engage the inclined surfaces of the head or nose portions of the interlocking fastener members.

This movement o'f the locking member from unlocked position to locked position requiresV translation or longitudinal movement as well as This translation is necessary in order that the locking member be 'moved from that portion of the fas- -tener where it bridgingly engages the at side surfaces of the interlocking fastener members, upwardly to that portion of the fastener where the flat side surfaces of the interlocking fastener members are sufiiciently widely spaced to permit the locking member lto move between the spaced fiat side surfaces into engagement with the in'- clined surfaces of the head portions of the inter'- locking fastener members. This combined rotary and translatory movement of the locking member from unlocked to locked position is, of course, resisted by the inherent resilience .of the locking member. This totally prevents accidental lock.-

ing of the slider.

` principles of this invention, is shown in position on the component parts of a conventional slide fastener. The fastener shown includes similar stringers I0, suitably connected at their lower ends and provided with suitable top stop means at their upper ends (not shown). Each stringer I0 comprises stringer tapes II having one edge Ita thereof reinforced and thickened in suitable manner as by cords I2 attached thereto at opposite sides. Secured on the thickened edge ||a of the tapes II are interlocking fastener `members I4.

The 'interlocking fastener members la of the stringers I0 are progressively engaged to connect the stringers Ill by longitudinal movement ofthe slider 3l upwardly with respect to the stringers I0 and progressively disengaged to disconnect the stringers II) by downward 'movement of the slider with respect to the stringers IIJ, as seen in Figs.

2 and 3.

As shown in Fig. 6, each interlocking fastener 'member I4 has twovmai'n portions, namely, the

head portion I5 and the bifurcated leg portion lli. The head portion I5 .is formed by an upwardly directed projection of generally conical form hav.-

. ing inclined surfaces I8. Concentric with this I9 leading from the bottom surface 20 of the member I4 and having interior surfaces substantially complementary with the surfaces I8 in order to secure the interlocking cooperation shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The at top surface 2| of the fastener member I4 extends from the rear of the leg portion I6 to a point adjacent the head projection, being substantially parallel with the fiat bottom surface 20 of the fastener member I4. The at side -surfaces 22 are substantially parallel and extend between the top and bottom surfaces 20 and 2| and from end to end of the fastener member I4.

Extending inwardly from the rear or outer surface 23 of the leg portion I6 of each interlocking fastener member I4 is the stringer tape-receiving slot 24 intermediate the legs 25, which slot terminates inwardly in a substantially cylindrical bead-receiving channel 26. When the fastener members I4 are secured to the tapes Il, the reinforced edges IIa of the tapes'l I are disposed in the channels 26 and the Stringer tapes extend outwardly between the legs 25, through the tapereceiving slots 24.

The slider body i's generally designated 30 and comprises a. rear wing member 3| and front wing member 32.' The rear wing member 3| is provided with marginal side flanges 33, and the front wing member 32 is provided with similar side flanges 34. These side flanges 33 and 34 cooperate with the wedge member or neck member l35 to form an upwardly diverging, substantially Y- shaped interlocking fastener member-receiving channel, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In the lower end of this interlocking memberreceiving and guiding channel, the interlocking members I4 of the stringers I0 of the slide fastener are interlocked or in substantially interlocked position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, while parallel. The rear wing 3| is uninterruptedv or continuous,'wh ile the upper wing 32 is provided with a centrally disposed locking member-receiving aperture 36 which is preferably substantially rectangular. At each side of the aperture 36 is an upstanding lug 31 which provides for swingable attachment of the pull tab 40 to the slider body 30.

The pull tab 40, preferably of flat or plate-like form, is provided with legs or' extensions 4| having transverse projections at their extremities which form trunnions'42 which extend between the lugs 31 and the wall of the front wing 32 to secure swinga'ble attachment of the pull tab 40 to the slider body 33. y

Between the legs or extensions 4|, the pull tab 4II is'provided with a central integral locking tongue member 43 of bent or curled-over form.

An intermediate flattened bearing surface 44 is provided omthe locking tongue member 43 and this `bearing surface bridgingly engages and skids or slides upon the adjacent at side .surfaces 22 of the Ainterlocking fastener members I4 in the unlocked position of the slideras shown in Figs'. 2 and 4.

The end extremity 45 of the locking tongue member 43' is substantially more acutely arcuate than the intermediate flattened bearing surface 44 and projects inwardly beyondthe plane of the v aaaaa'e flatside surfaces 22 of the interlocking fastener v members I4 in the locked position ofthe slider, as

shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Comparison of Figs. 2

,4) to locked position (Figs. 3 and 5).

It is necessary, in moving the locking tongue 43 from unlocked to locked position, that the locking tongue member 43 be moved beyond that portion of the fastener where the flat side surfaces 22 of the interlocking members are lsutilciently closely4 spaced as to be engaged bridgingly by the-contacting surface of the locking tongue 43 to a portion of the fastener where the flat` side surfaces 22 are sufficiently widely spaced to permit the locking-tongue 43 to extend therebetween and project within the plane of the flat side surfaces 22 lockingly to engage the inclined surfaces I8 of the interlocking fastener members I4, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

In Aother words, the locking tongue member 43 must be swung from a position below the locking axis indicated by the line L-L inFigs. 2 and 3 (see Fig. 2) upwardly beyond the locking axis L-L substantially to the position shown in Fig. 3. Appreciable resistance to this movement is, of course, encountered due to the necessity for snapping the locking tongue member 43 upwardly beyond those portions of the flat side surfaces 22 which are bridgingly engaged by the locking tongue member 43. This resistance is, of course, dependent upon the degree of inherent resiliency in the locking tongue member 43 which may be varied, as desired.

From the above, it will be clearly understood that accidental locking of the slider is prevented by the necessity for overcoming the inherent resiliency in the locking tongue member to bring the pull tab from unlocked to locked position. Likewise, when the pull tab is in locked position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the end extremity 45 of thelocking tongue member 43-inherently engages the inclined surfaces I8 of an interlocking fastener member I4 to resist swinging movement of the pull tab 40, thus requiring exertion of appreciable force to return the pull from locked position (Figs. 3 and 5) to unlocked position (Figs. 2 and 4).

The intermediate flattened bearing surface 44 skids along the at side surfaces 22 of the interlocking fastener members I4 in the unlocked position of the slider, as shown in Figs. 1, 2. and 4, and due to the smoothness of this bearing surface, which terminates at each end in progressively more arcuate surfaces, damage to the at side surfaces of theinterlocking fastener members I4 is prevented.

Likewise, when the slider is in unlocked position, transverse separating pull may be exerted upon the stringers lo above the slider to cause free stripping, wherein the slider moves downwardly of the stringers II) in response to such transverse pull, with no danger whatever of the occurrence of accidental Alocking or damage, such vas would be encountered where the locking ele- ,ment was of pin form which would ratchet upon the interlocking fastener members and, probably, fail between a pair of adjacent interlocking fastener members to lockv the slider to at least one stringer, whereupon the stripping force would be translated into lstrain tending to pull the interlocking fastener members I4 stringer tapes I'I..

from the supporting 3 The above-described lock slider is extremely' Y simple, rugged and cheap. The locking tongue member 43 may be readily, conveniently and cheaply attached to or formed integrally ,with' the pull tab 40 which is otherwise of conventional 5 form and which is secured to the slider body in conventional manner.

In addition to these advantages, the inherent resiliencyof the locking tongue is utilized to oppose 'accidental movement of the pull tab, both from locking to unlocking position and fromfunlocking position to locking position.l

Furthermore, the nature of the resilient locking tongue member and its cooperation with the flat sidesurfaces and inclined nose surfaces of l5 the interlocking fastener membersls such as to prevent damage to these surfaces which would result inundue wear and damage to the fastener.

It is, of course, to be understood that the abovedescribed structure is merely illustrative and in l nowise limiting and that I desire to comprehend Within my invention all modifications included within the scope of the appended claims.

. Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a slide fastener, a slider body Vhaving therein a diverging fastener member receiving channel and an aperture communicating 4with said channel, a pair of stringers in said channel each comprising a stringer tape with attached spaced fastener members, said fastener members. each having flat side surfaces and head portions with inclined surfaces, a pull tab member hinged `to said slider body, and a yieldable locking tongue on said pull tab extending into said aperture and directly engaging fastener members in said channel, said locking tongue having a relatively flat portion slidably engaging the flat side surfacesA of said interlocking fastener members in the unlocked position of said pull tab and having a relatively acutely arcuate portion engaging the inclined surfaces of said fastener members in the locking position of'said pull tab for locking said slider against movement on said stringers. 4

2. In a slide fastener, a slider body having therein a diverging fastener member receiving channel and an aperture communicating with said channel, a pair of stringers in said channel each comprising a stringer tape with attached spaced fastener members, said fastener members each having ilat side surfaces and head portions with inclined surfaces, a pull tab member hinged to said slider body, and a yieldable locking tongue on said pull tab extending into said aperture and directly engaging fastener members in said channel, said locking tongue having a gently curved portionfbridging and slidably engaging the dat side surfaces of adjacent interlockingfastener members in the unlocked position of said pull tab and having a relatively acutely arcuate portion engaging the inclined surfaces of-said fastener members in the locked position of said pull tab for locking said slider against movement on` said stringers, said pull tab being manually movable from said irst position to said second position, and said movement being resisted by the yieldability of said locking-tongue.

3. In a slide fastener, a slider body having therein a diverging fastener member receiving channel and an aperture communicating with said channel adjacent the zone of divergence, a

pair of stringers in said channel each comprising a stringer tape with attached spaced fastener members, said fastener members each having leg fil ' portions with fiat side surfaces and head portions with inclined surfaces. a pull tab member hinged to said slider body adjacent said aperture, and a resilient locking tongue on said pull tab extending into said aperture and directly engaging fastener members in said channel, said locking tongue having a gently curved portion bridgingly engaging the flat side surfaces of said fastener members in the unlocked position of said pull tab and having a relatively more acutely curved portion lockingly engaging the inclined surfaces of said fastener members between spaced flat side surfaces in the locked position of said pull tab for locking said slider against movement on said stringers.

4. In a slide fastener, a slider body having therein a diverging fastener member receiving channel and an aperture communicating with said channel adjacent the zone of divergence, a pair of stringers in said channel each comprising a stringer tape with attached rows of spaced fastener members, said fastener members each having leg portions with flat side surfaces and head projections with conicalsurfaces, a pull tab member hinged to said slider body adjacent said aperture a-nd a resilient locking tongue on said pull tab extending into said aperture and directly engaging fastener members in said channel, said locking tongue having a flattened portionbridgingly and slidably engaging the fiat side surfaces of adjacent interlocking fastener members in the unlocked position of said pull tab and having a relatively acutely arcuate end portion projectible inwardly of the plane of the fiat side surfaces into locking engagement with the conical surfaces of said interlocking members.

, 5. In a slide fastener, a slider body having therein an upwardly diverging fastener member receiving channel and an aperture communicating with said channel adjacent the point of divergence, a pair of stringers in said channel each comprising a Stringer tape with attached spaced interlocking fastener members, said interlocking fastener members each having leg portions with flat side surfaces and head portions with inclined surfaces, a pull tab member hinged to said slider body adjacent said aperture, and a resilient locking tongue on said pull tab extending into said aperture and directly engaging interlocking fastener members in said channel, said locking tongue being eccentric with respect to the pivot axis of said pull tab and having an intermediate relatively flat portion and a relatively acutely arcuate end extremity, said flattened portion bridgingly engaging the flat side surfaces of said interlocking fastener members and skidding freely thereon in the unlocked position of said pull tab, and said end extremity extending inwardly of the plane of the fiat side surfaces of the interlocking fastener members into rm locking en -gagement with the inclined surfaces of the head portions of said interlocking fastener members in the locking position of said pull tab.

6. In a slide fastener, a slider body having therein an upwardly diverging fastener member receiving channel and an aperture communicating with said channel adjacent the point of divergence, a pair of stringers in said channel each comprising a Stringer tape with'attaehed spaced interlockng fastener members, said interlockingv fastener members each having leg portions with l body adjacent said aperture, and a resilient locking tongue on said pull tab extending into said aaaaave aperture and directly engaging interlockingl fastener members in said channel, said locking tongue being eccentric with respect to the pivot axis of said p ull tab and having an intermediate relatively fiat portion and a relatively acutely 5 ,locking engagement with the inclined surfaces of the head portions of said interlocking, fastener members by manual swinging movement of said pull tab into locking position against the inherent resiliency of said locking tongue, and the inherent resiliency of said locking tongue resisting return -of said pull tab from locking position to unlocked position.

'7. In a, slide fastener, in combination with a pair of stringers comprising Stringer tapes with interlocking fastener members spacedly attached to one edge thereof, said interlocking fastener members having leg portions straddling said tape edges with flat side surfaces and having head portions with inclined surfaces; a, slider slidable on said stringers for progressively connecting and disconnecting said stringers by engaging and disengaging the head portions of said interlocking fastener members, said slider including a body with a diverging fastener member receiving channel' therein, and an aperture leading to said channel adjacent the zone of divergence, a, pull tab hingedly attached to said slider body adjacent 3!! said aperture, and a resilient locking tongue on the inner end of said pull tab projecting into said aperture, said locking tongue having a flattened portion`brldgingly and slidably engaging the fiat side surfaces of said interlocking 'fastener 4( members in the unlocked position of said pull tab and having a relatively acutely arcuate end extremity projectible inwardly of the plane of the fiat side surfaces into locking engagement with the inclined surfaces of the head portions of 45 said' interlocking fastener members between spaced flat side surfaces, the movement of said pull tab and said locking tongue between unlocked and locking positions being resisted by the inherent resiliency of said locking tongue. 5(

8. -In a slide fastener, in combination with a pair-of stringers comprising Stringer tapes with interlocking fastener members spacedly attached to one edge thereof, said interlocking fastener members having leg portions straddling said tape 5 edges with fiat side surfaces and having head portions with inclined surfaces; a slider slidable on said stringers for progressively connecting and disconnecting said stringers by engaging and disengaglng said interlocking fastener members, 6,

said slider 'including' a body having therein an upwardly diverging channel slidably supporting said stringers, said body having an aperture leading to said channel adjacent the zone of divergence, a pull tab hingedly attached to said 6` sliderbody adjacent said aperture, and a resillent locking tongue on the inner end of said pull .tab projecting into said aperture, said locking tongue having a flattened portion bridgingly and slidably engaging the flat side surfaces of said 7 interlocking fastener members in the unlocked posi-tion of said pull tab and having a relatively acutely arcuate end portion projectible upwardly of the slider and inwardly of thev plane of the flat. side surfaces of the interlocking fastener 7 azaasvo members into locking engagement with the inclined surfaces of the head portions of said interlocking fastener members, the movement of said pull tab .and said locking tongue between unlocked and locking positions being resisted by the inherent resiliency of said locking tongue. and the inherent resiliency of said locking tongue maintaining firm engagement between the arcuate end portion of said locking tongue and the inclined surfaces of the head portions of said interlocking fastener members in locking position;

9. In a slide fastener slider including a body having a channel slidably supporting interlocking slide fastener members of fastener stringers. said body having an aperture communicating with said channel; a pull tab hinged to said slider body adjacent said aperture, and a resilient from said unlocking position to said locking position and said movement thereof being resisted by yieldable resiliency of said locking tongue.

\ 10. In a slide fastener slider including a body having therein a channel slidably supporting interlocking fastener members of the stringere of a fastener, said body having an aperture communicating with said channel; a'puli tab pivoted to said slider body, adjacent said aperture, and a resilient locking tongue on said pull tab, said locking -tongue being eccentric with respect to the pivot axis of said pull tab and having an intermediate relatively fiat portion -and a relatively acutely arcuate end extremity, said flattened portion bridgingly engaging-the flat side surfaces of said interlocking fastener members and skidding freely thereon in the unlocked position of saidV pull tab, and said end extremity being movable upwardly of the slider and inwardly of the plane of the flat side surfaces of the interlocking fastener members into firm locking engagement with the inclined surfaces of said interlocking fastener members by manual swinging movement of said pull-tab into locking posi- -tion against the inherent resiliency of said locking tongue, and the inherent resiliency of said locking tongue resisting return of said pull tab from locking position to unlocked position while maintaining firm engagement between said end 

